Ceredigion councillors have called on Welsh Government to 'review and rescind' sweeping changes to town and community councils in Ceredigion.

The full council will consider a motion at its meeting on 24 September calling for the Welsh Government to “reconsider and withdraw” plans for a radical shake up that will see member numbers more than halved in some new look councils, with other smaller community councils merged or scrapped and absorbed into bigger neighbours.

Last month, Aberystwyth town councillors also called for the plans to be scrapped, raising concerns on the potential impact on smaller community councils and the Welsh language.

All but one of Ceredigion’s 51 community council areas will change, many dramatically, and suffer the loss of several councillors after proposals by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales for the new community arrangements in the county were approved by the Welsh Government last year.

After accepting the recommendations with slight tweaks following a consultation, Welsh Ministers made the official order in June to bring in the changes in time for the local council elections to be held in May next year.

Only Llanwenog Community Council will stay as it is after the next election, with councillor reductions, minor boundary changes, and council mergers to be introduced elsewhere across the county leading to the loss of 180 councillors.

Several small councils will be scrapped and folded into large neighbours.

In a motion to be put before the full council, Cllr Rhodri Evans, in a motion seconded by Cllr Gwyn Evans wants members to back that “Ceredigion County Council calls on the Welsh Government to review and rescind the proposals of the Boundaries and Democracy Commission Wales regarding changes to the boundaries of Town and Community Councils in Ceredigion.”

The councillors said that “we wish to write to Welsh Government and to the Minister with responsibility for Local Government to express our strong opposition to the proposed changes to town and community council boundaries in Ceredigion, including the merger of a number of existing community councils.”

“During the previous Senedd term, the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru prepared recommendations to review the boundaries of town and community councils in Ceredigion,” they said.

“During the consultation process, 236 comprehensive responses were submitted by town and community councils, organisations and individuals, amounting to approximately 470 pages.

“Of all those responses, only one supported the recommendations; all the others opposed them.

“Despite this clear evidence of local opposition, the Commission decided to maintain its recommendations, proposing changes to the boundaries of 50 of the 51 town and community councils in Ceredigion, with some councils being merged entirely.

“This creates the impression that the views of local communities have been disregarded.

“We urge the Welsh Government to reconsider and withdraw this proposal in a respectful manner and to explore alternatives that will preserve the integrity and unique identity of our community councils.

“Any reform should strengthen local democracy; not distance it from the people it is intended to serve.”